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Buick Encore vs Ford Bronco

2026 Buick Encore vs 2026 Ford Bronco — two small SUVs compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Buick Encore

2026 Buick Encore

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDAWD/4WD
VS6 – 0Buick Encore wins 6 of 6 categories
Ford Bronco

2026 Ford Bronco

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDAWD/4WD

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The short version

The Buick Encore is more fuel-efficient: 30 vs 20 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $1,100 a year less in fuel for the Buick Encore (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Buick Encore is the bigger car, about 6 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the Buick Encore has had fewer recall campaigns (17 vs 50).

The two cars

The 2026 Buick Encore is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (1.2L 3-cyl turbo and 1.3L 3-cyl turbo) and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 171 inches long and 71 inches wide on a 102-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,256 lb (Gx 4dr SUV AWD).

The 2026 Ford Bronco is a small SUV offered with 3 engines (2.3L 4-cyl turbo, 2.7L 6-cyl turbo and 3.0L 6-cyl turbo) and part-time 4-wheel drive. It measures about 165 inches long and 80 inches wide on a 100-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,288 lb (2dr 2.3l SUV).

Buying used? The 2023 Encore and the 2024 Bronco have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2015 Encore.

Basics

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
FFV, Regular Gasoline
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.2L 3-cyl turbo, 1.3L 3-cyl turbo
Engines
2.3L 4-cyl turbo, 2.7L 6-cyl turbo, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
Part-time 4-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

30 MPG
Best combined MPG
20 MPG
30 city
City / highway MPG (best)
19 city
$2,250
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$3,350

Performance & space

171.3 in
Length
165 in
71.3 in
Width
79.5 in
64.2 in
Height
72 in
3,025 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
4,288 lb

Safety & reliability

13
Driver-assist features standard
11
1
Recalls (2026)
9
17
Recalls, all years since 2005
50
4
Owner complaints (latest year)
11

Interest

4,658
Wikipedia views, 30 days
26,704

Buying used

2023
Best used year
2024
2015
Year to avoid
–

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Buick Encore if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (30 vs 20 MPG)
  • You want more room (6 in longer)
  • You want more standard driver-assist tech
  • You put reliability history first (17 vs 50 recalls since 2005)

Choose the Ford Bronco if…

  • You want something easier to park (6 in shorter)

Pros & cons of each

2026 Buick Encore

  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

2026 Ford Bronco

  • Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
  • Below-average fuel economyBest version gets 20 MPG combined, 23% below the 2026 small SUV average of 25.9 MPG.
  • 9 recallsMore than similar models (about 1). Confirm repairs with the VIN.

Full 2026 Buick Encore specs →Full 2026 Ford Bronco specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →